Universal wants the format war to continue indefinitely

by Nick Doerr { Aug 9th 2007 at 3:30PM }

Universal president Craig Kornblau shot down on our respect meter by stating he desires the format war to continue despite the negative effects it has on consumer adoption in a recent interview. He thinks that HD DVD is in such a fragile position that if Universal ceased support, HD DVD would cease to exist (but isn't that ultimately the idea for one format to fade away?). In fact, when asked about dealings behind the curtain to keep HD DVD support, Kornblau bluntly replied, "I'm not going to tell you that we don't cut financial deals with people every day."

Kornblau says that once players reach $200, consumers will truly adopt one format or the other and then he will decide which format Universal will support. With Blu-ray players still expensive and HD DVD players getting another price slash later this year, he'll have to make his decision in less than a year. We hope he makes the right choice by then, because we've got one word to describe Kornblau's actions ... and it rhymes with bass-fat.

[Via Blu-ray.com]

Tags: blu-ray, hddvd, universal

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

never$$hort @ Aug 9th 2007 3:40PM

Stupid, considering HD-DVD recieved another obvious blow recently with 300 sales, again the Blu outsold HD-DVD 2:1, a pretty obvious continuing trend if you ask me...

'300' Blu-ray Outsells HD DVD by 2 to 1:
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Warner/Industry_Trends/Disc_Sales/300_Blu-ray_Outsells_HD_DVD_by_2_to_1/848

paul @ Aug 9th 2007 3:44PM

yea i got a word to describe his actions. bullshit. just let HD-DVD die already, you fucked up by going exclusive, we get it. i can understand he wants to milk every single penny he can from that format, but seriously...300 sells better on blu-ray, the departed sells better on blu-ray, get the hint yet?

but then again this is just another confirmation that corporations dont give a rats ass about the consumer

gullum @ Aug 9th 2007 3:45PM

I love that last line.

I think it comes down to the simplicity of the name. HD-DVD is like 5 syllables. Blu-Ray only 2. ;-P

Michael K. @ Aug 9th 2007 4:05PM

universal is obviously dumber than crap, and i want shaun of the dead and hot fuzz on blu-ray

shase @ Aug 9th 2007 4:08PM

Thank god universal doesnt have too many "blockbuster" films like the other companies that support bluray - pirates 3, shrek 3 and a lot more

Peter J @ Aug 9th 2007 4:17PM

The biggest driver in terms of moving stand alone players is content, content, content.

Even, if HD-DVD players were $200, people are not going to buy them if there are no movies that they want to purchase... this is why studio support is so important... to get people to say: i freakin need that movie in HD.

Andy @ Aug 9th 2007 4:42PM

@6

Content is great but look at the Wii. It is cheap but doesn't exactly have a huge amount of content.

Larz @ Aug 9th 2007 4:51PM

@6 People always say that, but it's been proven time and time again that it's wrong. Various things drive hardware sales, but the two that most often drive it are content and 'keeping up with the Joneses' (ie everyone's buying this so I guess I should too).

Microdot @ Aug 9th 2007 5:30PM

@ 6,7,8

yes.. content is king.

however the wii has hit op fad status. it will die (probably sooner rather than later) as more and more people start to experience this new fangled thing called 'hd'... which the wii doesnt do. the wii has jumped in the middle of the last throes of the sd era, and capitalized on it quite successfully (so far. and i know i'll get all types of crap for saying 'so far'.. but the facts speak for themselves ladies: http://vgchartz.com/japconscomps.php?name1=Wii&name2=Wii&type=0&align=0 - notice the drop in sales, and although there are spikes, interest and sales continue to drop - albeit slowly)

people are very well aware of the risks in the format wars. and im sure a lot of the older people will remember getting burned by the betamax. they look to see whats selling, what has the movies, and what companies are putting out content on the platform. in all categories, blu-ray is stomping the living bejesus out of hd-dvd. it has a much larger install base, sells more movies, has a larger selection of movies, and has much larger studio support. take all of that, and add to it the fact that the players are relatively close in price, and its a no brainer.

the only thing that could string along hd-dvd for a little while longer, would be for blu-ray to stay the same price, while hd-dvd drops to the sub $149 level. but the likelihood of that happening is slim-to-fucking-none.

Popfrogs @ Aug 9th 2007 5:32PM

Well, the Jury is in, and the verdict is unanimous:

Universal is retarded.

Why not just sit on the fence like a few other studios? How much did Microsoft or someone else bribe them to play along? I just don't get it. There has to be alot more to this picture than we're seeing.

Either that or Universal likes being all alone in their sandbox. Maybe there's something comforting (read:profitable) in having a stranglehold on a niche market.

Killer @ Aug 9th 2007 5:44PM

Man there is alot of Blu-ray fanboy crying here. Get over yourselves. Obviously, it's not going to change so stop b1tching about it. Are you really wanting you're Universal Movies or something? Or are you afraid it won't die and the market will be stuck with two different formats? Take your pick, either way. It's pathetic whining.

@shase

Shrek 3? WTF? Dreamworks is both. Dreamworks owner has stated several time he doesn't like this format war and to not expect them to release shrek on any of the formats (in the states anyways europe might be different.) They have only release a couple of their films and thats it for both sides of the war.

@paul

"but then again this is just another confirmation that corporations dont give a rats ass about the consumer"

That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Going Blu-ray would have the same effect with the people that own HD DVD players. It would show that they don't give a rats ass about people that supported it at the beginning. You're logic makes no sense at all.

@Never$$hort

Ok...It's a week of sales.....Why not go back and look at the ratio in about 6 months...since you know they keep selling them. I mean by you logic the 360 has won the format war (agianst the ps3) since it sold faster then the ps3 did starting out. Great Logic.

h0mi @ Aug 9th 2007 7:20PM

"but then again this is just another confirmation that corporations dont give a rats ass about the consumer"

The same can be said about bluray in the first place, or the fact that we have a format war since the opposing sides, all members of the DVD forum (which exists to prevent this sort of bullshit in the first place) couldn't agree on a single format.

h0mi @ Aug 9th 2007 7:21PM

And what I mean about bluray "not caring about consumers' wishes" involves BD+, assorted DRM schemes, the fact that it's an unfinished standard & that existing players cannot be upgraded to newer formats.

Tom32 @ Aug 9th 2007 7:22PM

Their the f***ing reason their is a format war right now when blu-ray is winning. If they just quit we would all be happy and less people will get an hd-dvd player so they won't become useless
when blu-ray wins.

never$$hort @ Aug 9th 2007 7:49PM

@#12 Killer:

Dude you are retarded. Show some sources proving that Blu ray isn't winning, or sources proving anything you say for that matter... I was just giving the most RECENT EXAMPLE of how Blu-ray is dominating the HD market which was the '300' sales. Here is another example with a SOURCE which also shows blu ray winning and its the TOTAL 2007 yera to date sales, not just one week or one movie outselling another format, TOTAL YTD 2007 SALES!!! Ignorant people make me mad... LMAO

Pie charts indicate Blu-ray victory over HD DVD assured:
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9740033-1.html

never$$hort @ Aug 9th 2007 7:56PM

Killer if that wasn't enough here is 2006, 2005 and many more charts indicating there never really was a format war, Blu ray has always been in the lead... makes you cringe huh? sucks for you buddy...

By The Numbers - Why the HD DVD/Blu-Ray War Is Over:
http://blog.pixelperfectproductions.com/?p=54

WebMaster @ Aug 9th 2007 8:02PM

@ Tom32

Wow...."They're" & "There" are feeling a bit lonely today with "Their" getting all the attention.

Nevertheless, how will HD-DVD players become useless when there are HD-DVD's on the market? I'm just curious.

Killer @ Aug 9th 2007 8:33PM

@never$$hort

"Blu ray has always been in the lead... makes you cringe huh? sucks for you buddy..."

Oh yeah you know it. I'm so worried that one of the two formats that I own (Yes, I own both) SURPRISE! Will lose. I'm really worried about that? Nice try. Where did anything in the post I said before indicated I only owned HD DVD? Guess you just thought since I tried to defend it, I only own it only. Look who's retarded now! Plus, how retarded is it to declare a format a winner by numbers that are only 3% part of movie sales? You can't. Universal is making money off of sales and so is Toshiba. They aren't losing money. So why end the format? Business sense doesn't look at stats of sales. If that was so Toyota would have given up and quit back in the early 90's because GM was outsell them by a huge margain. Do me a favor and never get into the business world. You would destroy a company if you had an attitude as irrelavent as yours is on this subject. Sales aren't going to determine this. It's money. If they keep making money, that format keeps on ticking. Just like everything else in business. You can parade those stats of sales all you want. The real question is are you afraid that you might have to buy another format because it never died? I'm not, I'm set. Are you?

ForceUnleashed @ Aug 9th 2007 10:39PM

Lol...the sony fanboys are so desperate for bluray to win so they can justify their ridiculously huge investment in the ps3.

Good for Universal. I hope bluray loses so badly.

Popfrogs @ Aug 9th 2007 11:13PM

#20:

Universal is a single studio without many new hits under their belt and by them avoiding BR sales, they're just hurting themselves. We PS3 owners would like to buy a few Universal films.

BTW are you surprised to find Sony fanboys on...PS3FANBOY.COM? I swear, some people have no clue what website they're on.

MisterL @ Aug 9th 2007 11:29PM

Optical discs are so yesterday. Give me downloadable HD content thank you.

sonicyouth @ Aug 9th 2007 11:32PM

It will be a great day when I'm watching The Bourne Ultimatum on Blu-Ray via my PS3. And I'll be giving that Universal prick a celebratory finger! It will happen people. Just give it some time.

Extinction @ Aug 10th 2007 9:08PM

"Speaking of content. PS3 is lacking in game content. The primary purpose of the PS3 is suppose to be for games, which it has been below average thus far"

Metacritic.com, gamerankings.com and gamelemon.com all rate PS3s library higher than Wiis

Magma @ Aug 10th 2007 2:42AM

Forceunleashed is an amazing dumbass, really.

Spherical @ Aug 10th 2007 4:56AM

@Forceunleashed
Mate, check the left side of your mouth you have some brown stuff there... Oh sorry... My bad, just realising you are dribbling s&*t... :P

GhostDoggy @ Aug 10th 2007 5:56AM

At this time, I do not think it should be that much of a problem for someone that truly has what it takes (both in their home and in their wallets) to access both formats. I bought the Sony PS3 (instead of the BDP-S301) for Blu-ray last Friday and love it. BUT, I also bought the Toshiba HD-A2 for $240.

While I would never have considered either at their original introduction price, the current prices more then made themselves available to me and my home theater. As such, the format war is pretty much a moot point in my home--and the wife love it all.

Bored @ Aug 10th 2007 7:53AM

I hope Blu-Ray becomes dominant soon enough.

It's a better format than HD DVD. Smart consumers want to have content in the best possible format, simple as that.

coplice @ Aug 10th 2007 8:24AM

@20
you dont seem to be a "ps3fanboy"
what the hell are you doing here? is it really that boring from wherever you come from?
those that enjoy their PS3 are here to read news about their console, if you dont have 1 get out of here and go read news that are about your console
i never fucking went to the xbox360fanboy blog because i dont own 1, same for wii/ds/psp

James @ Aug 10th 2007 11:32AM

300 may have sold better on Blu-Ray, but it's actually better on HD-DVD. It includes features that aren't on the Blu-Ray disc. You can also take your HD-DVD, flip it over, and watch it on a regular dvd player. There are also going to be a lot of pissed off Blu-Ray owners when they find their systems are obsolete here in the near future. Only the players with ethernet capabilities will be able to upgrade to the new BD standard. All BD movies made on this new standard will then be unplayable on the old Blu-Ray players. (This does not affect the PS3 however). I know if I spent hundreds on a player that can't play the new releases, I'd be pretty pissed. Enough to make me switch. HD-DVD is moving to a new standard as well, but all players are required to have ethernet capabilities. I prefer HD-DVD myself, but I could really care less which format wins, as I can play movies from either side.

never$$hort @ Aug 10th 2007 4:18PM

Guess what #29... NOBODY CARES ABOUT EXTRA FEATURES that only get watched one time, tops!!! Otherwise the 300 HD-DVD version would of sold better if people actually cared about PIP or 300 ringtones, I mean come on, who the fuk cares??!!? And why would I want an HD format on one side and DVD on the other?? Thats pointless in my opinion, oh yay I can bring my 300 DVD to my friends house who only has SD nad watch it there, when I could be watching it at my house in HD!!! Plus now my friends cant ask to borrow my blurays at all unless they have the player to do so, which they dont... I LOVE IT...

dunnypop @ Aug 10th 2007 4:31PM

I don't think the HD format wars are over just yet. the Blu-ray has a better foot in the door, but the majority of people still buy dvd's, but it's still amazing when you still see people purchasing VHS's at clearance sales etc...

Let me fuel the fire. HD-DVD has porn.

never$$hort @ Aug 10th 2007 4:37PM

@31: "Let me fuel the fire. HD-DVD has porn."

-Guess what, so does blu ray... Vivid has supposedly started to release porn on blu ray, Debbie Does Dallas is the 1st and should already be released. So your flame has been put out, sorry bud...

Andy @ Aug 11th 2007 11:38AM

You realize porn will not be the deciding factor in this format war. In the VHS days porn was not everywhere so it was a big deal...now its not.

Actually I want porn to go to HD DVD because then families will be more inclined to go with Blu-Ray.

No porn + Disney = Family Dollar

Format Less! @ Aug 11th 2007 5:57PM

Okay, I'm no PS3 Fanboy not even a 360 Fanboy, I own a 360 but not an HD-DVD drive. So flame away at me for that statement. But pay close attention to the next.

Sales alone will never dictate who wins. Savvy shoppers will go where their dollar does the most work. What gets them the best experience in their home entertainment? The average household most likely does not have either format at this time. So who is really gaining? The Home Theater Junkie!? The Audio Aficionado? Either format has it pros and cons, take the damn consoles out of this race and it’s just about what you get in a movie.
BR - bigger disc sizes (Has to because of the antiquated codec used to keep the HD image on the 1080p screens)
HD – Smaller Disk size (Has superior compression codec so the same movie that took up 45 gigs on a Blu-Ray take up to 25 gigs on an HD, hmmm, interesting)

But, but, the BR looks better…. – don’t even go that route. Most people unless they have a 60” plasma are not going to be able to tell the difference in quality. In addition most consumers see no difference whatsoever in the quality of the pictures. 1080p Plasma TV with both formats is still 1080p period. It’s the same damn movie.

Wait …
BR – Bigger movie selection and more studios backing this format (They have to it’s a financial undertaking, they don’t want pirating of movies and what better company to back this than that of Sony {rootkit, anyone}.)
HD – Still has to keep it self in this race as well and there are studios backing this format as well. (Well when Blu-Ray wins they will have to switch! The same can be said for all those financial backers of Blu-Ray if HD takes over.)

Well, nobody wants the bonus crap features on the HD-DVD anyway. Not entirely true many movie buffs want this additional contents like director’s comments, bonus scenes, and making of crap. This is one of the things that what made DVD’s the hottest things to own (Besides never having to rewind them). Back to my point regarding image quality, since 1080p is still 1080p in either format what are you really buying? The extra content, wake up!

BR, does have a lot of the market flooded with advertisement and more companies willing to back them. This just comes down to business and where they can make more money. HD is not as forceful in the advertising arena. Actually makes me wonder why BR is pedaling its wares so hard when HD doesn’t have to? What am I not being told why the sleeping dragon with HD, not enough money, not enough backers? I think we are still in store for some serious competition on this front. When the studios just stop making DVD’s that when all of this will come to a head.

Hansol Choi @ Aug 11th 2007 6:51PM

I hope the dude gets fired as a result of his stupidity and arrogance.

Andy @ Aug 12th 2007 11:41AM

"Has superior compression codec"

I don't think superior is the right word. Maybe forced compression is a better term.

Scott Krueger @ Aug 12th 2007 9:50PM

Yeah I agree, Let HD-DVD Die.
Anyone who bought one can put it next to their Betamax and their Laser Disc Player.

YerDreamsRequiem @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:59AM

Wow... Never thought I would see the day where people would actually support a company that wishes for a format war to live on indefinitely. I dont have either player, but if the war were to end tomorrow, I could definitely afford either one.
#19 is obviously looking for some drama, and I for one will not bite. You want to trash talk "Sony fanboys," fine. But I don't own a PS3, or a stand alone player. I just want this war to be over. Universal has the power to end it, yet refuses to. This is not due to stupidity, but rather false hope and abandonment of morals. Since nobody here seems to know this little tidbit of info, let me share with you: General Electric owns approximately 80% of Universal, and also happens to be a chief investor, and therefore supporter, of HD DVD. Meaning if by some miracle it DOES catch on, they will be paid money for each disk made in that format, instead of paying Sony money to make blu-ray disks. Despite the fact that Universal is pretty much certain that HD-DUD is doomed, they arent going to throw in the towel until after the holidays, to see if Jesus granted them a miracle, or to unload as many HD DVD players as they can, thereby minimizing their losses. If anything, I think Kornblau seems frustrated by this less-than-moral tactic, and went public to try and warn the masses. Just because he is the president doesn't mean he has the power to change anything he wants. GE's stockholders would go nuts as they watched their stock in Universal go from dropping slowly, to plummeting.